John Paul Janke

John-Paul Janke was born in Cairns in far North Queensland. His family come from Cape York Peninsula and Murray Island in the Torres Strait and he moved to Canberra as a child in the 1970’s.

He has been actively involved in Indigenous Affairs since he was a teenager and has since forged a highly successful career as a journalist.

John-Paul is now National Indigenous Affairs Editor at NITV and co-host of their flagship news and current affairs program The Point.

He has previously worked as a journalist and media specialist in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for nearly three decades with Executive positions at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra.

John Paul was a member and Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee for almost a decade and has previously sat on the Diversity Council of Australia’s Expert Advisory Panel and been the Deputy Chair of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

All these roles enable him to be a passionate advocate for the need for a greater awareness and celebration of the rich histories and the diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.